In the four-step communication process, who decodes or interprets the message?

• A. Sender
• B. Feedback provider
• C. Message
• D. Receiver

Answer: (D)

The main idea is that decoding the message happens at the receiving end. The receiver interprets the symbols, words, or visuals that the sender has encoded and sent, using their language, experiences, and context to derive meaning. The sender’s job is to encode and transmit the idea, the message is the content itself, and the feedback provider is the person who replies with a reaction or response. Decoding is what determines whether the intended meaning was understood.